Google’s Android 8.1 Oreo updates go through testing, but problems have slipped through the cracks into the most recent version rolling out to Nexus and Pixel devices.

As we push away from the new Android 8.1 build’s release date the list of problems continues to grow. We’re hearing about a vast array of issues including severe battery drain, broken Wi-Fi, busted Bluetooth, problems with first and third-party applications, lag, reboots, and more.

Google will, at some point, roll out additional bug fix updates to Pixel and Nexus users. However, it’s unclear how long users dealing with issues will be waiting.

The company hasn’t confirmed Android 8.1.1 or Android 8.2 and we aren’t expecting either update to emerge now that Android 9.0 Pie is official. That means those of you dealing with Android 8.0 or Android 8.1 issues could be on your own for long stretches.

Today we want to go over some of the common Android 8.0 and Android 8.1 Oreo problems impacting the Nexus and Pixel series and highlight some potential fixes for those in need.

How to Fix Android Oreo Installation Problems

Installation issues are among the most prominent Android 8.1 Oreo problems plaguing Nexus and Pixel users.

Some users are running into problems downloading the update or sideloading the update manually. Let’s start with Android Oreo sideloading issues.

If you’re attempting to sideload Android Oreo on your phone or tablet, take a look at our in depth guide. It will take you step-by-step through the process which could help you alleviate your issue.

If you don’t consider yourself a power user, we recommend waiting for the Android 8.1 Oreo update to roll out Over-the-Air.

If you’re having trouble installing the OTA version of Android Oreo, the first thing we recommend is a quick restart. Power your phone down and then turn it back on and try again. If the update is hanging, take a look at this guide.

If a restart doesn’t work, try letting your device’s battery run out. Once the battery dies, recharge the device to 100% and try the installation again.

How to Fix Android Oreo Battery Life Problems

If you’re noticing severe or abnormal battery drain after getting Android 8.1 Oreo on board your device there’s no need to panic. You should be able to fix the issue in a matter of minutes.

How to Fix Android Oreo Bluetooth Problems

Android 8.1 Oreo is plagued with widespread Bluetooth issues and some of them will probably require a fix from Google. That said, you can try and fix the issues on your own right now.

If your Bluetooth connection(s) starts acting up, try turning Bluetooth off and then back on again, You can do that from Quick Settings or from within the Settings app.

If that doesn’t work, and it might not, go in and forget the Bluetooth connection causing you problems. Head into your Settings and Connected devices and select Bluetooth. Tap on a device and forget the connection. Reconnect.

Now try resetting your network settings. Go into Settings and select System then tap Reset. At the top of this screen tap Network settings reset. On the next screen, tap Reset Settings.

If this doesn’t work, try booting your device in Safe Mode. Safe Mode will disable third-party apps and help you isolate potential culprits. There’s a chance one of your apps is causing the problem. If you aren’t familiar with the process, follow Google’s instructions.

How to Fix Android Oreo Wi-Fi Problems

Wi-Fi problems are extremely common Android issues and they can popup anytime without warning.

If you start noticing slow speeds or dropped connections you’ll want to check your router. Unplug your router for a solid minute and then plug it back in to see if your issues are resolved.

If you know it’s not your router or you’re in a public place where you can’t unplug the router you’re using, you’ll want to head into your device’s settings.

Go into your Settings and into Network & Internet. From there, tap Wi-Fi and then tap on the network name. You should see a big button that says Forget Network. You’ll want to tap that but not before tracking down the network’s password. Forgetting the network will force you to reenter the password.

If this doesn’t work try resetting your network settings. Go back into Settings and select System > Reset. At the top of this screen you’ll see Network settings reset. Tap that. Tap Reset Settings at the bottom of the screen.

If those don’t help, we recommend updating your applications. If updating doesn’t fix your issue, boot your device into Safe Mode to disable third-party apps. Apps have been known to cause connectivity problems.

How to Fix Android Oreo Charging Problems

Charging problems almost always popup after major Android releases and we’ve already seen a few complaints from Nexus and Pixel users. Fixing these issues can be tricky and time consuming but here are a few things to try if you encounter slow charging speeds or if charging suddenly stops.

First, try restarting your phone or tablet. If that doesn’t work, check the cable you’re using. If you’re using a third-party charger, try using the charger your device came with. If you’re already using the stock charger, try using a charger with the same voltage.

You also might try swapping out the wall charger for a USB cable. Plug your Nexus or Pixel device into a computer and let it charge.

If you can manage, charge your device up to 100% battery. Once it gets a full charge, let the charge deplete itself. Before the battery gets down to 0%, maybe around the 5% mark, charge the battery up to 100% again. Repeat this three to four times and charging could return to normal.

How to Fix Android Oreo Data Problems

Fixing data issues can be extremely tricky, but here are a few things to try if your connections become unreliable with Android 8.1 Oreo on board.

If you’ve checked for outages at Google/your carrier/app provider and you aren’t seeing widespread complaints from other users, power down your device and turn it back on and see if that helps restore your connectivity.

If it’s still busted, try switching your device to Airplane Mode. This will turn off all of your connections. Flip it back on after a few moments and check again.

If that doesn’t help, go into your Settings. Go to Network & Internet and tap on Mobile network. Try toggling cellular data and LTE off and on.

If you’re still unable to get a fast, reliable connection, you’ll need to 1) get in contact with your carrier or Google or 2) factory reset your phone or tablet.

We’ve put together a list of simple tips that could help you get a handle on Android 8.1 Oreo’s poor performance. Start there if you don’t know where to turn.

If those fixes don’t help, you can try using an application like Qualcomm’s Trenpn Profiler to monitor your device’s CPU activity. You can also monitor your memory usage within Android Oreo.

You can check memory usage of your apps and services in Settings then Apps & notifications then App Info. Tap on an app and scroll down to where it says Memory. If an app is using a ton of memory, you might want to limit it or delete it.

How to Fix Android Oreo App Problems

Some Nexus and Pixel users are running into issues with their apps and services after installing Android 8.0 Oreo. App issues are extremely common after major Android releases.

First, we recommend restarting your phone or tablet. Hold down the power button and then power it back on after waiting a few seconds.

If an app starts acting up, check for an update. Developers are rolling out support updates and there’s a good chance the new version of the app will alleviate your issues. Just remember to read reviews from Android Oreo users before installing. Some updates will help but others might make things worse.

You can also try force stopping the app. This will completely shut the app down and kill services it’s using in the background. To Force Stop an app in Android Oreo, go into Settings, Apps & notifications, and tap on the app’s name from the list. On the next screen, tap the Force Stop button.

We also recommend clearing the app’s cache and data. Go to Settings and Apps & Notifications. From there, tap App info and tap on app. Select the Storage tab. Tap Clear Cache to clear the app’s cache and Clear Data to clear the data.

How to Fix Android Oreo Sound Problems

If your device’s sound suddenly cuts out you’ll want to restart your phone. If you aren’t getting sound in a particular app, close the app and try again. If that doesn’t help try reinstalling the app/updating it with the latest bug fixes.

If those fixes don’t work, boot the device into Safe Mode. This will disable any third-party applications on board and it could help you narrow down a culprit.

We also recommend taking a peek at your speaker grille to look for debris. If you notice a substance collecting in the grille, carefully remove and check your sound again.

How to Fix Android Oreo Random Reboots

If your Nexus or Pixel is randomly rebooting itself, here are a few remedies to try before contacting Google for a potential replacement or fix.

First, try restarting your device.This has worked for us many times in the past.

If a simple restart doesn’t fix the problem, try updating your applications. You might also want to wipe out app data and the cache. Here’s how to do that.

Grab your device and head into Settings and Apps & Notifications. Select App info and you’ll get a list of apps currently installed and disabled on your device. Tap on an app to bring up a new menu.

Once you’re in this menu, select the Storage tab. You should now see two tabs, Clear Data and Clear Cache. Tap Clear Cache to clear the app’s cache and Clear Data to clear the data.

If these problems persist, get in contact with Google customer service.

How to Fix Android Oreo Problems If Nothing Works

If none of these fixes work (and for the record we didn’t guarantee they would), you’ll need to turn elsewhere or, some cases, go nuclear.

Nexus 5X December Update Impressions & Performance

Before we get into an early look at the December Android 8.1 build's performance on the Nexus 5X, a few notes about the installation process.

If you're currently running the latest Android 8.1 build, and we assume most of you are, it shouldn't take long to transition from the version you're currently running to the new build. It took us just a few minutes to get the software up and running on our Nexus 5X.

We've been using the Nexus 5X's December Android 8.1 Oreo build for short time and the update is performing well in key areas including battery life, connectivity, and UI speed.

We haven't noticed any major changes on our Nexus 5X since moving from the November build. That's a good thing. We didn't run into any major problems with last month's update.

We've been able to connect the Nexus 5X to multiple routers including eero mesh Wi-Fi. So far, the speeds are fast and reliable.

We've also successfully connected the Nexus 5X to several Bluetooth devices including headphones and speakers.

The Nexus 5X in our possession feels pretty fast with the December build on board. It's still early, but animations and transitions are smooth and we haven't experienced any lag or general sluggishness.

The December update feels stable on our version of the Nexus 5X. That said, if you're feeling leery, you should think about waiting for long-term feedback emerges.

This definitely fixed my Bluetooth problems. Thanks very much for the info. It was a pain cause I got the last stage of the beta before they rolled out with the final version. The small update didn’t work so I had to go back to 7.1.2 then load the final version that said Oreo back on. Pain to back everything up and as always I seem to lose some stuff. Your advise fixed my wifi lagging too but I’ll have to see about the battery drain. I happen to noticed it was the mostly Google apps chewing up the ram but I’m charging it up and paying attention from a full charge to get an accurate reading on it. I do have a question though. I don’t believe you can clear the cash partition drive doing the hard reset on my Pixel XL. There was no option for it. Also Oreo doesn’t have the option to clear the cache in storage anymore. I had to clear the cache from every individual app. What a pain in the Oreo if you know what I mean…Mine hasn’t been to bad though. Im ok with working out a few bugs on a new o/s of a first edition Google phone. This has far been the best Android phone I have ever owned. I know when I upgrade to the Pixel 3 the hardware side is going to get a lot better. Worth it for the smooth stock Android experience….

A caution for anyone upgrading from Android N, I attempted to update on my Nexus 6 and now Android won’t start. It says that the data files are corrupt and I must do a factory reset. I have tried wiping the cache but no luck.

The in-call sound for my Nexus 5x somehow got disabled with the Oreo 8.0 update. Speakerphone works fine, but the earpiece for phone calls is silent. Tried restarting in safe mode, using an external line out, still won’t work. I know this is due to the update because I literally made a normal phone call yesterday, initiated the update, set the phone down to charge, and picked it up again to find out I can’t make a phone call without the speakerphone on. Has anyone else had this issue?

My Lenovo K8 Note is getting switched off automatically randomly at any time whenever I’m driving, sleeping or walking with phone in my pocket. Don’t know how to fix this. I have restarted my phone many a times but still same problem persists. Please help me solve this issue.